Former council worker 'let down and angry' after losing retirement gift because of budget cuts

A FORMER council worker has hit out at his "morally bankrupt" former employer for withdrawing his lifetime gym pass because of budget cuts.

Town hall bosses in Wirral gave Mike Garbutt the pass to its leisure centres after he was forced to retire after 34 years' service through ill-health.

But the 59-year-old from Wallasey, who had worked for the authority’s parks and gardens department, was sent a letter after just nine months demanding the return of the pass.

It said the withdrawal of the "Passport for Life" would take effect from this Friday, April 1.

It has now emerged Mr Garbutt is among 400 other former council staff similarly affected.

Mr Garbutt, who has suffered two strokes, said: "When I had to retire last summer from Wirral Council after 34 years because of serious health problems I was given a leisure centre pass as a retirement gift from the council.

"I thought this was very kind and would be of great benefit in helping me recover from the strokes well.

"Today I have received a letter from them saying they want it back as part of their savings.

"How morally bankrupt has this council become that they are asking for retirement gifts to be returned?

"I am feeling let down and angry.

A council spokesman said: "Wirral Council has to reduce its spending by £28m for this coming year.

"We provide leisure services throughout the borough, which require almost £5m in subsidies to break even.

"Changes to leisure concessions were made as part of the budget setting process and were consulted widely on throughout January and February and agreed at Budget Council on March 3.

“To keep the centres financially viable and open for residents to enjoy, we are removing free access to the centres for a range of groups.

"This includes around 400 former council staff who received free access passes as part of a staff reward scheme.

"While we absolutely appreciate that this is disappointing for those people affected, we believe making these changes – which amount to in excess of £500,000 savings – will go a long way towards helping us retain a good leisure offer for Wirral residents."

"Senior directors are walking away with cheques for thousands of pounds, yet some of the lowest-paid but longest serving staff are now being told to return their retirement gift.

"Can you imagine any other employer basically going into someone's living room and removing the pensioner’s carriage clock?

"There is no evidence that this move will 'save’ money.

"We have no idea how many of the 411 retired staff use their passes, how often or if they will pay to use the leisure centre or simply go to a private gym when their ‘Passport for Life’ is cancelled. In this case, life should mean life.”

Comments

Shocking behaviour from a morally bankrupt crowd. You obviously aren't senior or chummy enough to receive a big fat cheque from the politburo!

Shocking behaviour from a morally bankrupt crowd. You obviously aren't senior or chummy enough to receive a big fat cheque from the politburo!bigfoot

Shocking behaviour from a morally bankrupt crowd. You obviously aren't senior or chummy enough to receive a big fat cheque from the politburo!

Score: 5

Hugo1008
3:28pm Tue 29 Mar 16

What a disgrace penny pinching at its worst extreme, I would like to ask what presumable employed Numpty actually made this momentous decision. And what of the 66 Councillors who have sanctioned this behaviour.
Not one of the 66 Parasites from all parties have offered to reduce their sumptuous expense's claims to help out with the cost cutting exercises, and I bet not one of these parasite will have the Gumption to have a quite word with the CEO to say this is a bad move, as they wallow in the trough of plenty.
Lets see if the staff have any feeling for their past colleagues and this appalling treatment from what is laughingly called the most improved local authority.

Last edited: 3:38pm Fri 8 Apr 16

What a disgrace penny pinching at its worst extreme, I would like to ask what presumable employed Numpty actually made this momentous decision. And what of the 66 Councillors who have sanctioned this behaviour.
Not one of the 66 Parasites from all parties have offered to reduce their sumptuous expense's claims to help out with the cost cutting exercises, and I bet not one of these parasite will have the Gumption to have a quite word with the CEO to say this is a bad move, as they wallow in the trough of plenty.
Lets see if the staff have any feeling for their past colleagues and this appalling treatment from what is laughingly called the most improved local authority.Hugo1008

What a disgrace penny pinching at its worst extreme, I would like to ask what presumable employed Numpty actually made this momentous decision. And what of the 66 Councillors who have sanctioned this behaviour.
Not one of the 66 Parasites from all parties have offered to reduce their sumptuous expense's claims to help out with the cost cutting exercises, and I bet not one of these parasite will have the Gumption to have a quite word with the CEO to say this is a bad move, as they wallow in the trough of plenty.
Lets see if the staff have any feeling for their past colleagues and this appalling treatment from what is laughingly called the most improved local authority.

Score: 3

Hugo1008
3:43pm Tue 29 Mar 16

I humbly reduce my number of 66 to that of 65 Parasites, at least Chris Blakeley has made an utterance about this appalling decision.
As it has been said they do not have a clue who if any actually use these passes nor if any savings will accrue from scrapping these very minor concessions to long serving council employee, any so called financial information about savings will be at best fanciful and at worst a downright lie.
As per normal for this ludicrous and farcical so called Wirral Borough Council in its present Administration and Governance.

I humbly reduce my number of 66 to that of 65 Parasites, at least Chris Blakeley has made an utterance about this appalling decision.
As it has been said they do not have a clue who if any actually use these passes nor if any savings will accrue from scrapping these very minor concessions to long serving council employee, any so called financial information about savings will be at best fanciful and at worst a downright lie.
As per normal for this ludicrous and farcical so called Wirral Borough Council in its present Administration and Governance.Hugo1008

I humbly reduce my number of 66 to that of 65 Parasites, at least Chris Blakeley has made an utterance about this appalling decision.
As it has been said they do not have a clue who if any actually use these passes nor if any savings will accrue from scrapping these very minor concessions to long serving council employee, any so called financial information about savings will be at best fanciful and at worst a downright lie.
As per normal for this ludicrous and farcical so called Wirral Borough Council in its present Administration and Governance.

Score: 6

red devil
3:55pm Tue 29 Mar 16

WBC should try cutting heir own exorbitant wages first

WBC should try cutting heir own exorbitant wages firstred devil

WBC should try cutting heir own exorbitant wages first

Score: 2

red devil
3:56pm Tue 29 Mar 16

In May you have a vote - USE IT

In May you have a vote - USE ITred devil

In May you have a vote - USE IT

Score: 4

spamfiend
red devil10:08pm Tue 29 Mar 16

Red, the problem is the people of Wirral ALWAYS vote them back in so I cannot see it changing. Unless we get some radical changes it will always be the same.

WBC = Wirral Bullying Clowncil

Red, the problem is the people of Wirral ALWAYS vote them back in so I cannot see it changing. Unless we get some radical changes it will always be the same.
WBC = Wirral Bullying Clowncilspamfiend

Red, the problem is the people of Wirral ALWAYS vote them back in so I cannot see it changing. Unless we get some radical changes it will always be the same.

WBC = Wirral Bullying Clowncil

Score: 2

red devil
spamfiend1:13pm Wed 30 Mar 16

Just once, vote for neither labour nor tory. Everyone - then see how the following year progresses. If they were no good, then do whatever is wanted.

Just once, vote for neither labour nor tory. Everyone - then see how the following year progresses. If they were no good, then do whatever is wanted.red devil

Just once, vote for neither labour nor tory. Everyone - then see how the following year progresses. If they were no good, then do whatever is wanted.

Score: 0

spamfiend
red devil8:05pm Wed 30 Mar 16

I am right with you there, just hoping the rest of the populace are with us

I am right with you there, just hoping the rest of the populace are with usspamfiend

I am right with you there, just hoping the rest of the populace are with us

Score: 0

Cleomenes
4:06pm Tue 29 Mar 16

Tight bastards!

Tight bastards!Cleomenes

Tight bastards!

Score: 5

WirralAl
4:37pm Tue 29 Mar 16

What a tight shower when it comes to ordinary people.

Does that mean they will ask the senior officers who got a nice bung to pay back.

£220,000.00 split between two involved in the social services scandal?
David Green £103,000.00
David Taylor Smith £68,000.00
The list goes on and on.

The retirement gift is hardly generous and it depends if he uses it but it is one rule for the workers and one rule for the top.

They are taking the mickey out of all meanwhile cashing in when they can!

Remember who NOT TO VOTE FOR at election time.

These people are not LABOUR they are in it for what they can get out of it and have less standards than a pickpocket.

Most improved Council-You must be joking!!!

What a tight shower when it comes to ordinary people.
Does that mean they will ask the senior officers who got a nice bung to pay back.
£220,000.00 split between two involved in the social services scandal?
David Green £103,000.00
David Taylor Smith £68,000.00
The list goes on and on.
The retirement gift is hardly generous and it depends if he uses it but it is one rule for the workers and one rule for the top.
They are taking the mickey out of all meanwhile cashing in when they can!
Remember who NOT TO VOTE FOR at election time.
These people are not LABOUR they are in it for what they can get out of it and have less standards than a pickpocket.
Most improved Council-You must be joking!!!WirralAl

What a tight shower when it comes to ordinary people.

Does that mean they will ask the senior officers who got a nice bung to pay back.

£220,000.00 split between two involved in the social services scandal?
David Green £103,000.00
David Taylor Smith £68,000.00
The list goes on and on.

The retirement gift is hardly generous and it depends if he uses it but it is one rule for the workers and one rule for the top.

They are taking the mickey out of all meanwhile cashing in when they can!

Remember who NOT TO VOTE FOR at election time.

These people are not LABOUR they are in it for what they can get out of it and have less standards than a pickpocket.

Most improved Council-You must be joking!!!

Score: 7

Gedmcbeath
4:48pm Tue 29 Mar 16

This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott.
Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!

This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott.
Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!Gedmcbeath

This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott.
Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!

Score: 8

steady cyclist
5:35pm Tue 29 Mar 16

i wonder what benefits management get that are not published and we the rate payers can take off them................

i wonder what benefits management get that are not published and we the rate payers can take off them................steady cyclist

i wonder what benefits management get that are not published and we the rate payers can take off them................

Score: 3

JohnON
steady cyclist6:40pm Tue 29 Mar 16

Good question. I suspect the answer will hit me like a P45 on May 5th.

Good question. I suspect the answer will hit me like a P45 on May 5th.JohnON

Good question. I suspect the answer will hit me like a P45 on May 5th.

Score: 1

mandylou1101
8:59pm Tue 29 Mar 16

Cruel and Callous decision by Wirral Borough Council, heard from a friend who works in leisure that the cards have all been cancelled holders to be informed by cannon fodder leisure staff.
Perhaps Councillor Meaden can comment on this decision as this is her department, sure she announced a £2 million pound investment in leisure just not for loyal former council staff and under privileged kids whose free swims have been chopped as well.
Somebody should remove her overused swipe card for the councils control room.

Cruel and Callous decision by Wirral Borough Council, heard from a friend who works in leisure that the cards have all been cancelled holders to be informed by cannon fodder leisure staff.
Perhaps Councillor Meaden can comment on this decision as this is her department, sure she announced a £2 million pound investment in leisure just not for loyal former council staff and under privileged kids whose free swims have been chopped as well.
Somebody should remove her overused swipe card for the councils control room.mandylou1101

Cruel and Callous decision by Wirral Borough Council, heard from a friend who works in leisure that the cards have all been cancelled holders to be informed by cannon fodder leisure staff.
Perhaps Councillor Meaden can comment on this decision as this is her department, sure she announced a £2 million pound investment in leisure just not for loyal former council staff and under privileged kids whose free swims have been chopped as well.
Somebody should remove her overused swipe card for the councils control room.

Score: 2

red devil
mandylou11011:15pm Wed 30 Mar 16

strange how they can close youth facilities all over the wirral, then suddenly, because elections are due, announce a miraculous investment, that will not be realised after the election. Politicians + open mouths = lies

strange how they can close youth facilities all over the wirral, then suddenly, because elections are due, announce a miraculous investment, that will not be realised after the election. Politicians + open mouths = liesred devil

strange how they can close youth facilities all over the wirral, then suddenly, because elections are due, announce a miraculous investment, that will not be realised after the election. Politicians + open mouths = lies

Score: 1

Cleomenes
12:15pm Wed 30 Mar 16

Wonder what Mr Blott is going to get when he retires...

Wonder what Mr Blott is going to get when he retires...Cleomenes

Wonder what Mr Blott is going to get when he retires...

Score: 5

spd54
3:48pm Wed 30 Mar 16

As one of those affected by these withdrawals I'm disgusted. A saving of zero is zero. You can't say it cost anything more to have these free concessions by them being there than it does if they are not they will still have the same staff, lighting, heating cost etc whether 400 of us have free concessions or not. There is no way they will save by removing them. One hopes that the subsidized meals etc that councillors and staff have are removed along with travel expenses, I always had to pay my own travel to and from work don't see why they should be any different as I'm sure they claim it going to their meetings. 30+ years loyal service and for what a kick in the teeth.

As one of those affected by these withdrawals I'm disgusted. A saving of zero is zero. You can't say it cost anything more to have these free concessions by them being there than it does if they are not they will still have the same staff, lighting, heating cost etc whether 400 of us have free concessions or not. There is no way they will save by removing them. One hopes that the subsidized meals etc that councillors and staff have are removed along with travel expenses, I always had to pay my own travel to and from work don't see why they should be any different as I'm sure they claim it going to their meetings. 30+ years loyal service and for what a kick in the teeth.spd54

As one of those affected by these withdrawals I'm disgusted. A saving of zero is zero. You can't say it cost anything more to have these free concessions by them being there than it does if they are not they will still have the same staff, lighting, heating cost etc whether 400 of us have free concessions or not. There is no way they will save by removing them. One hopes that the subsidized meals etc that councillors and staff have are removed along with travel expenses, I always had to pay my own travel to and from work don't see why they should be any different as I'm sure they claim it going to their meetings. 30+ years loyal service and for what a kick in the teeth.

Score: 4

thedrumdoctor
5:24pm Wed 30 Mar 16

£500,000 on paying to get rid of the 3 'love triangle' executives last year, they really know how to spend OUR cash.

£500,000 on paying to get rid of the 3 'love triangle' executives last year, they really know how to spend OUR cash.thedrumdoctor

£500,000 on paying to get rid of the 3 'love triangle' executives last year, they really know how to spend OUR cash.

Score: 3

woodskevin52
11:53pm Wed 30 Mar 16

Scandalous!!!! Let's get them out ,we ve all got history with this showers corruptness and lies ,and yet our local mp said just agree her advice joke!!!!!

Scandalous!!!! Let's get them out ,we ve all got history with this showers corruptness and lies ,and yet our local mp said just agree her advice joke!!!!!woodskevin52

Scandalous!!!! Let's get them out ,we ve all got history with this showers corruptness and lies ,and yet our local mp said just agree her advice joke!!!!!

Score: 0

mandylou1101
12:08am Thu 31 Mar 16

Have Wirral Council also sent letters to those former staff who chose not to take the leisure pass ' FOR LIFE' to return their retirement gifts?

Have Wirral Council also sent letters to those former staff who chose not to take the leisure pass ' FOR LIFE' to return their retirement gifts?mandylou1101

Have Wirral Council also sent letters to those former staff who chose not to take the leisure pass ' FOR LIFE' to return their retirement gifts?

Score: 1

john14325
9:29am Thu 31 Mar 16

I was surprised to see that 400 retired people got a free pass for life, but the cost of that is a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of pensions which are far too high for those who were earning fat cat salaries and then retire early on £50,000 or more a year.

I was surprised to see that 400 retired people got a free pass for life, but the cost of that is a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of pensions which are far too high for those who were earning fat cat salaries and then retire early on £50,000 or more a year.john14325

I was surprised to see that 400 retired people got a free pass for life, but the cost of that is a drop in the ocean compared with the cost of pensions which are far too high for those who were earning fat cat salaries and then retire early on £50,000 or more a year.

Score: 0

mandylou1101
11:32am Thu 31 Mar 16

On the council site they are giving away 12 month invigorate passes as part of a competition, will they want it back after a few months?

On the council site they are giving away 12 month invigorate passes as part of a competition, will they want it back after a few months?mandylou1101

On the council site they are giving away 12 month invigorate passes as part of a competition, will they want it back after a few months?

Score: 1

red devil
1:49pm Thu 31 Mar 16

When you want to prune a tree you start at the top, so come on WBC - resign!!

When you want to prune a tree you start at the top, so come on WBC - resign!!red devil

When you want to prune a tree you start at the top, so come on WBC - resign!!

Score: 1

antisthenes
7:55am Fri 1 Apr 16

Gedmcbeath 4:48pm Tue 29 Mar 16
This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott. Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!

100% Correct!!!

This is a bogus calculation. Balancing a nominal budget will solve nothing, and attempting to achieve such a spurious balance will produce no tangible result. Other that is than to punish loyal former employees.

It is merely an accounting device, its not about saving real money in the real world its about cooking the books to demonstrate 'savings' and meet 'targets' . Even within the context of 'Austerity' this is a pointless decision.

The council would do well to remember that a council budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our civic values and aspirations. Still I suppose we have to find some way of 'demonstrating savings' so we can afford the next gagging pay off and/or fund vital posts such as that occupied by policy guru Martin Liptrot.

Gedmcbeath 4:48pm Tue 29 Mar 16
This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott. Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!
100% Correct!!!
This is a bogus calculation. Balancing a nominal budget will solve nothing, and attempting to achieve such a spurious balance will produce no tangible result. Other that is than to punish loyal former employees.
It is merely an accounting device, its not about saving real money in the real world its about cooking the books to demonstrate 'savings' and meet 'targets' . Even within the context of 'Austerity' this is a pointless decision.
The council would do well to remember that a council budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our civic values and aspirations. Still I suppose we have to find some way of 'demonstrating savings' so we can afford the next gagging pay off and/or fund vital posts such as that occupied by policy guru Martin Liptrot.antisthenes

Gedmcbeath 4:48pm Tue 29 Mar 16
This is utter nonsense and the council are a joke! My father also had his recalled recently. The letter came from the strategic director Joe Blott. Which Einstein in his team worked out that by withdrawing 400 free memberships from retired people who served many years supporting our community that they would make savings of £500,000. Just to put that in perspective they think that by withdrawing these passes they will achieve a saving of £1,250 per person per annum. £104 per person per month! Really? Can I buy you some new crayons to rework your calculations?
This is why we are in the state we are in. We have idiots making stupid "strategic" decisions like this based on nonsense figures. Well thank you council for once again failing your people!

100% Correct!!!

This is a bogus calculation. Balancing a nominal budget will solve nothing, and attempting to achieve such a spurious balance will produce no tangible result. Other that is than to punish loyal former employees.

It is merely an accounting device, its not about saving real money in the real world its about cooking the books to demonstrate 'savings' and meet 'targets' . Even within the context of 'Austerity' this is a pointless decision.

The council would do well to remember that a council budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our civic values and aspirations. Still I suppose we have to find some way of 'demonstrating savings' so we can afford the next gagging pay off and/or fund vital posts such as that occupied by policy guru Martin Liptrot.

Score: 2

Gedmcbeath
antisthenes4:09pm Fri 1 Apr 16

Im going to be writing a freedom of information request on the calculations and decision making on this. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for items of information to request, please reply to this comment and I will add it to my list!!

Im going to be writing a freedom of information request on the calculations and decision making on this. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for items of information to request, please reply to this comment and I will add it to my list!!Gedmcbeath

Im going to be writing a freedom of information request on the calculations and decision making on this. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for items of information to request, please reply to this comment and I will add it to my list!!

Score: 1

norman.meddle
7:59am Fri 1 Apr 16

Great timing by Joe Blott (on the landscape) to ensure the letters to rescind the 'passport for life' arrived over a long bank holiday weekend. I received mine Saturday after arriving home from th gym! Burgess got £129,000 for decimating our local services, Davies has put the Council Tax up and now they want us all to pay for gym membership. Burgess managed 2.5 years as Chief Executive. My long Service Award was over 10x that. By that reckoning I should have received £1.29m but I got a Passport for Life and was very happy with it till last Saturday. Please tell Phil Davies that I checked and I;m still alive, I do have a pulse albeit a little weaker now! A Passport for Life by definition means that but clearly not part of Wirral Councils logic! Lets demand Burgess pays back his golden handshake! Lastly I think their may be a legal challenge possible. Any thoughts. Norman Meddle, ex Wirral employee and Unison retired member

Great timing by Joe Blott (on the landscape) to ensure the letters to rescind the 'passport for life' arrived over a long bank holiday weekend. I received mine Saturday after arriving home from th gym! Burgess got £129,000 for decimating our local services, Davies has put the Council Tax up and now they want us all to pay for gym membership. Burgess managed 2.5 years as Chief Executive. My long Service Award was over 10x that. By that reckoning I should have received £1.29m but I got a Passport for Life and was very happy with it till last Saturday. Please tell Phil Davies that I checked and I;m still alive, I do have a pulse albeit a little weaker now! A Passport for Life by definition means that but clearly not part of Wirral Councils logic! Lets demand Burgess pays back his golden handshake! Lastly I think their may be a legal challenge possible. Any thoughts. Norman Meddle, ex Wirral employee and Unison retired membernorman.meddle

Great timing by Joe Blott (on the landscape) to ensure the letters to rescind the 'passport for life' arrived over a long bank holiday weekend. I received mine Saturday after arriving home from th gym! Burgess got £129,000 for decimating our local services, Davies has put the Council Tax up and now they want us all to pay for gym membership. Burgess managed 2.5 years as Chief Executive. My long Service Award was over 10x that. By that reckoning I should have received £1.29m but I got a Passport for Life and was very happy with it till last Saturday. Please tell Phil Davies that I checked and I;m still alive, I do have a pulse albeit a little weaker now! A Passport for Life by definition means that but clearly not part of Wirral Councils logic! Lets demand Burgess pays back his golden handshake! Lastly I think their may be a legal challenge possible. Any thoughts. Norman Meddle, ex Wirral employee and Unison retired member

Score: 1

martin.purssell
9:46am Wed 6 Apr 16

I am as outraged by the Council's response as the issue itself. The Passports for "Life" are not part of a "staff reward scheme", they are retirement gifts to thank and recognise the loyalty of staff who worked more than 25 years for Wirral Council. (Much longer incidentally than most of the senior officers subject of well publicised, generous pay-offs.) I am still certain that councillors cannot have made this decision while knowing the full facts (still loyal you see!) and don't understand why they can't just admit they have made a mistake. We really shouldn't need to be taking legal challenges and submitting Freedom of Information requests to resolve this debacle! By the way, Mike Garbutt, if you are reading this, has anybody from the council actually spoken to you since this story broke?

Last edited: 11:52am Wed 6 Apr 16

I am as outraged by the Council's response as the issue itself. The Passports for "Life" are not part of a "staff reward scheme", they are retirement gifts to thank and recognise the loyalty of staff who worked more than 25 years for Wirral Council. (Much longer incidentally than most of the senior officers subject of well publicised, generous pay-offs.) I am still certain that councillors cannot have made this decision while knowing the full facts (still loyal you see!) and don't understand why they can't just admit they have made a mistake. We really shouldn't need to be taking legal challenges and submitting Freedom of Information requests to resolve this debacle! By the way, Mike Garbutt, if you are reading this, has anybody from the council actually spoken to you since this story broke?martin.purssell

I am as outraged by the Council's response as the issue itself. The Passports for "Life" are not part of a "staff reward scheme", they are retirement gifts to thank and recognise the loyalty of staff who worked more than 25 years for Wirral Council. (Much longer incidentally than most of the senior officers subject of well publicised, generous pay-offs.) I am still certain that councillors cannot have made this decision while knowing the full facts (still loyal you see!) and don't understand why they can't just admit they have made a mistake. We really shouldn't need to be taking legal challenges and submitting Freedom of Information requests to resolve this debacle! By the way, Mike Garbutt, if you are reading this, has anybody from the council actually spoken to you since this story broke?

Score: 0

elbmek
12:28pm Wed 6 Apr 16

MAY 5th - start of payback time. Then, under the Freedom of Information Act, everyone write letters to the non elected executive asking for their salary and pension details.

MAY 5th - start of payback time. Then, under the Freedom of Information Act, everyone write letters to the non elected executive asking for their salary and pension details.elbmek

MAY 5th - start of payback time. Then, under the Freedom of Information Act, everyone write letters to the non elected executive asking for their salary and pension details.

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